Do robots take sugar?

July 14, 2016

Our new robots can do amazing things – from “shaking hands”, to making a cup of coffee, to enabling us to trial a new approach to building cars.

These special collaborative robots – or co-bots – are helping workers fit shock absorbers to Fiestas, a task that requires pinpoint accuracy, strength, and a high level of dexterity; though for this video we also wanted to show some of their more light-hearted capabilities.

Employees, in Cologne, Germany, work hand-in-hand with the 1-metre high co-bots that are equipped with hi-tech sensors to ensure worker safety. They can stop immediately if they detect so much as a finger in their path.

Developed over two years, the robot programme was carried out in close partnership with German robot manufacturer, KUKA Roboter GmbH. The trial is part of our investigations into Industry 4.0, a term coined to describe a fourth industrial revolution.

“Robots are helping make tasks easier, safer and quicker, complementing our employees with abilities that open up unlimited worlds of production and design for new Ford models,” said Karl Anton, director vehicle operations, Ford of Europe.

Ford is now reviewing further use of the collaborative robots.

“Working overhead with heavy air-powered tools is a tough job that requires strength, stamina, and accuracy. The robot is a real help,” said production worker Ngali Bongongo.

Topics:

Related Stories

For decades now carbon fibre has been used in the production of everything from aircraft to racing cars – due its incredibly high strength and extremely low weight. The all-new Ford GT – which makes extensive use of lightweight materials including carbon fibre – will boast one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production […]

Britain’s best-selling car is now the Ford Fiesta, which has just overtaken the Ford Escort after first going on sale in 1976. Here‘s the story of Britain’s best-loved cars in numbers: -40 – lowest temperature in Celsius at which engineers test Fiesta 1.2 – kilometres of wiring in every car 3 – International Engine of […]

Bringing the Ford Mustang sports car to the U.K. presents a new challenge – creating a version with the steering wheel on the right. Testing has now started on the right-hand drive Mustangs that go on sale here in 2015, and are destined for more than 20 markets worldwide. The convertible and fastback hard-top models […]